Hi Tenjiso, I'm going to enter today. I agree the route looks better than when I did it in 2014. Only slight downside to new route is there might be less support along the way however my PB was run in a low key Marathon with low support.

I'm in mainly as I got a place as one of their running reps so I have to do a blog post every so often for them, about my training, I got free entry, t-shirt and hoodie. So I'm in only trouble is I'd already signed up for a marathon the week before, and an ultra the week after, so I'm going to be going as slowly as humanly possible.

I've ran it a couple of times, and enjoy it, as you say it looks quieter it's going more around the outskirts of the town, so less underpasses and sharp turns, and no more long but not very steep hill at 24 miles.

Alternatively...run the MK marathon eyeballs out, and use the Ultra for a recovery run.

The year I ran the MK marathon was very low on support. I kept seeing the same family who were motoring around the course to cheer on their family member. The expected en-route entertainment was missing too.

Looks like a much more scenic route than previously. Miles 15 to 24 are essentially the route of the Winter Half Marathon which was surprisingly well supported when I did it last year despite it being in December. From local knowledge, there is a reasonable downhill at mile 6, a bit of a up and down around 10, and then a bit of a climb (but not enough to really describe it as a 'hill') at 23, but not like the hill at 24 miles last year.

I didn't do this race last year but came out to watch it as it went past my local and the atmosphere was pretty good. I expect I'll do the same again this year - can't really commit to all the training for a spring marathon as I play hockey through the winter, plus it's just two days before the Silverstone 10k which my company uses each year for it's inter-department challenge...

I find hockey fitness and running fitness are quite different - hockey is great for short fast bursts and mid-distance endurance but not ideal for long distance running. Last year I managed a couple of good half marathon, beating my pb twice over the course of the hockey season based around two runs per week on top of hockey training and hockey match, but I just can't see how I'd get the mileage for a decent marathon in whilst playing hockey as well!

There are also half marathons in MK in March and July, both of which I am planning on doing.

After a four year absence doing this again in 2016, I did the first one in 2012. Did two VLMs but last years was too slow due to sleep and training disruption caused by my wife having a child six days before.

Did you do 8m (or more) with 4m @ LT pace today SR? I'm following the P&D 18 week up to 55m plan.

Unfortunately due to recent illness my hopes for a PB have been pretty much scuppered. I can't see me recovering enough of my fitness in time for the marathon, but I'm going to see what I can do. My endurance is okay, but my speed has suffered. I might book an Autumn marathon to go for the PB.

Tenniso- I always find I run faster in a Autumn marathon than Spring. I've entered Berlin which everyone is telling me is PB potential. I'm following a Runners world 16wk program for this one, with 3/4runs 20m or longer for the endurance part. First HM race will be Watford on Feb 7th anyone else doing that one or others in March-April?

Is this a good marathon for a first timer? I'm looking to do my first marathon this year after a couple of half marathons, and i am currently hitting around 11 miles on my longest runs as part of my training plan.

Stephen - I was so glad I had stadium parking the first year (2012) because of the atrocious weather and the lack of facilities for changing. I was able to get out of my wet clothes in the car straight afterwards, rather than suffer hypothermia. I think they've improved the changing situation by opening more of the stadium, so it's less of a concern. Nonetheless, I like knowing I have my car nearby in case of more awful conditions.